If it’s July it must be San Diego Comic Con, and with that biggest of popular culture events you can bet TheOneRing.net is right in the middle of it all. No, there are no new Tolkien films on the horizon, but there are new collectibles, in a variety of styles, coming to fans bookshelves soon. There are also fan gatherings, at SDCC and beyond, and plenty of other tidbits of Tolkien news just waiting to be shared with one and all. And there will be a few Middle-earth alums attending the con this year, chiefly Elijah Wood and Graham McTavish. So keep a wary eye on TheOneRing.net for any and all Middle-earth news, rumors and cosplay. Oh, and don’t forget our panel, which is listed after the cut. Continue reading “TheOneRing.net’s panel at San Diego Comic con is this Friday”
Month: July 2016
As we approach another Comic-Con I wanted to share a review of an item I loved from last years Comic-Con. The amazing Minas Tirith Environment from Weta Workshop was the scene stealing item of their booth last year. Sculptor Leonard Ellis out-did himself with the detail that went into this piece, from the detailed front gate to the last little brick in the upper-most wall. This is the kind of piece that you feel, with the right camera, you could do a fly over to film your own Minas Tirith scene. Thankfully for collectors, this piece is an open edition and can still be had. I would encourage you to get your Minas Tirith today.
Continue reading “Collecting The Precious – Weta Workshop’s Minas Tirith Review”
“The Lay of Aotrou and Itroun,” written by J.R.R. Tolkien in 1930, and first published in 1945 in the literary journal The Welsh Review, is set to be re-released in November of this year after more than 70 years of being out of print. The 508 line poem tells of the childless couple Aotrou and Itroun (Breton: lord and lady), who are helped by a Korrigan, a Breton term for a fairy. When Autrou refuses to pay the price of marrying the Korrigan, he dies three days later and his wife, Itroun, subsequently dies of grief, leaving the twins she bore them to grow up as orphans.
From nothing more than this short description, fans will immediately be reminded of Tolkien’s gift for writing about, and romanticizing, tragic circumstances. Anyone who has read The Lord of the Rings knows of the sacrifices Frodo made, [big LOTR spoiler here]…
Continue reading “Tolkien poem to be republished after 70 years”
Between now and August 13, The Dukes theater in Lancashire, U.K., will be performing J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Hobbit as their summer season’s ‘walkabout’ outdoor show. The audience will literally follow along as Bilbo Baggins joins Gandalf, Thorin, and his company of dwarves on their mission, quest, thing, to regain their long-lost treasure from the dragon Smaug. From the Westmorland Gazette:
Since 1987, The Dukes walkabout shows have transformed Williamson Park into Neverland, Oz, Ancient Greece and now Middle Earth.
“I feel like the park chose The Hobbit,” explained The Dukes artistic director, Joe Sumsion. “There are some shows – and this is one of them – where people’s instant reaction is to say that will be great in the park. It’s the natural environment for it. The strongest elements in the book are its humour and charm. We plan to capture this, offering an intimate experience where the audience can get really close to all these fascinating characters and creatures.”
According to the Gazette article, there’s also a Lord the The Rings and The Hobbit movie connection in that Andy Serkis began his professional acting career at The Dukes, performing in its first outdoor performance in 1987. Performances of The Hobbit are at 7:15 p.m. nightly except for Sundays. Visit The Dukes website for more information and to purchase tickets.
If you’ve been collecting statues from Weta Workshop for as long as I have, you have a mental list of things not yet done that you hope do get done. This week’s new release brings us one of the iconic moments from The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers. As we see Gandalf, Aragorn, Legolas, and Gimli ride up to Edoras, and Lady Eowyn comes barging out of The Golden Hall in the beautiful white dress. This moment has been screaming to get a statue made since the film came out in 2002. This week, that long wait is over and we can now place orders for a statue capturing this breathtaking moment, including those very cool Rohan flags flying in the breeze. Coming in with an edition size of only 750 pieces and a price of $275, this statue is sure to go fast. Fans will also be responsible for a $50 deposit at the time of purchase.
San Diego Comic Con’s schedule is up and TheOneRing.net’s panel will be Friday, July 22 at 5pm in Room 25ABC. If you’re attending, be sure to join the fun!
Tolkien Fandom: The Road Goes Ever On
Friday July 22, 2016 5:00pm – 6:00pm, Room 25ABC
There have been fans of Professor Tolkien’s work since 1937, and there will continue to be fans far into the distant future. The staff of TheOneRing.net are continuing to host online discussions, streaming video and live events throughout this year and for years to come. They know you want to discuss the details of the books, make and wear beautiful costumes and party like Hobbits whenever you can. This year they will celebrate the 15th anniversary of the release of Fellowship of the Ring. Join staffers Clifford Broadway (TORn Tuesday), Josh Rubinstein (TORn bookclub), Kellie Rice (Happy Hobbit), Alex Rice (Happy Hobbit), and Josh Long (Collecting the Precious). Expect some fun audience participation during this in-depth discussion with the website forged by and for fans of J. R. R. Tolkien.